Hades Titans {BOOK 2}

XXXVII. Golden Echo

Nothing followed but a harsh sweep of the wind and a loud thud on the other side of the wall. I ventured to open my eyes only to witness Hayden holding Rory by his neck against the wall that was crumbling around them. Harley inhaled a sharp breath more in annoyance than anything else. Perhaps she was used to the three brothers wrestling, having been around them for much longer than I have, but to me, it was mortifying. My heart was pounding inside of my chest and both Hayden and Rory looked like they were ready to kill each other. I had no idea how Hayden knew where I was or that I was in potential danger, but I was glad he was there. Rory had all the power in the entire world and I doubted if I would have survived his rage.

There was nothing but their heavy breaths for a minute. They only stared at each other as rage filled their hearts. I wondered if they were reconsidering or maybe just considering the pros and cons of this fight that neither of them were going to win. I hoped that Rory had come to his senses and that once Hayden let him go, it was all going to end. Surely even he knew that this was crazy. Despite how right everything he had said was. I was still carrying a little baby inside of me. I was more fragile than I had ever been before.

Perhaps it was just poor timing of Nick's arrival, or perhaps that was exactly who they were waiting for. Nick appeared out of nowhere and I could only assume that Hayden had summoned him. So I suppose it was the back up that Hayden brought along that really infuriated Rory and the fight was back on. I jumped with every hit, every time they slammed one another into the ground or the wall. I wasn't sure whose side Nick was on. Perhaps it was simply the law for all three to be involved. It was certainly nothing that I hoped to witness in my little time left. There were gods getting ready to go to war with Titans and preparing for the war of their lives. Rationing their strength. But here were the strongest three fighting because of me and wasting their power and energy.

Rory was right. I was the only common denominator in all of those scenarios. If I had stayed on Earth, none of this would have happened. Perhaps I'd be dead already if Teo found me with nobody to protect me, but I was going to be dead either way. But Olympus wouldn't have fallen, Hayden wouldn't have killed me, I wouldn't have broken several peoples hearts, I would be the puny, red blood human.

"Let's get you away from here. They'll come to their senses eventually." Harley hurried to take me into the adjacent dining room. She shut the doors behind us, but we could still hear the echo of their punches and the thundering of her front room shattering into pieces. Instead of easing my heart it only made me wonder what they were doing and with each crash I wonder who was hurt and how bad.

Harley could stop them. I knew she could, but she was choosing not to get herself involved. I tried to be understanding. But I myself, in my state was ready to go through the door and try and separate them. How could it not bother her that they were trying to kill one another. She didn't seem that worried about their antics. As if it were normal. Perhaps it was, I just had no knowledge of it.

Her dining room was as beautiful as the rest of her house. It housed a large 16 seat table and it was spacious enough to fit ten times that. She sat down comfortably onto one of the chairs and crossed her legs over. I couldn't possibly sit with so much anxiety circling inside me and our partners and friends on the other side of the wall trying to kill each other.

"I did have a question I wanted to ask you." Harley spoke, making me turn around to face her for a moment. That moment was short lived as she jumped out of her seat in shock, before coming forward to grab my hand and pull me alongside her. I didn't need to turn around to know that I wasn't going to like whatever was behind me, I could see it on Harley's face. I took the few steps beside her, to feel somebody else's hand wrap around my right one. It was what made me turn my head and look at Chase.

My stomach dropped as he yanked my hand so hard that I lost grasp of Harleys hand with my left and nearly tumbled towards Chase. He wrapped his long arm around my waist, holding me beside him. Face to face. Nearly nose to nose.

I hadn't seen him so close for a long time. There was something different about him. He didn't feel like my Chase, he didn't look like my Chase. It wasn't him. Not anymore. His eyes reflected the gold, glowing a yellow light that looked blinding. I was afraid. My hands trembled as he still held my hand in his.

We had built trust. I spent weeks trying to convince Hayden that Chase was trustworthy and that he was on our side, but this Chase – this was not the Chase that I trusted and that I learned not to fear. This was a titan, just like any other.

"Chase don't!" Harley screamed. I suppose it was her attempt at alerting the three idiots behind the wall, completely oblivious to the danger that was literally wrapped around me.

His hand slowly slipped from my palm and to my neck, cupping my face as if he wanted to kiss me. My heart sank, but the sound of the door flying open behind us had sent a chill of relief down my spine. They're in time. They will scare him. This will al be over in a second. I foolishly hoped.

Chase held my face close to his as he peered up over my head to look at Hayden, Rory and Nick. He smirked, which made me inhale a deep breath of fear before his head lowered back towards mine and I felt him hold me a little tighter. Please don't do this. I shut my eyes as tightly as possible – prying.

He pulled my chin an inch closer, before placing his lips onto mine. My heart jumped into my throat as I cringed at the thought of Hayden watching him kiss me. Hayden is going to kill him. But within my thoughts I realised I no longer felt Chase's lips on mine, or his arms wrapped around me. Though I had opened my eyes, there was nothing before me but darkness. It felt like I had woken up in a dream, only there was nothing. I could hear my thoughts, but I couldn't speak and I couldn't see. I was lost.